Review: Crux Guild

In August of last year, 007MI6 reviewed the Crux Guild immediately following the trade show. He has positive things to say about the release and noted the cigar for its strength. I was interested in trying the release after it was showcased, I have been a fan of Crux Cigars since the beginning, but it was not till recently that I had the opportunity to actually smoke the cigar. The cigar is just now being released as well, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to revisit the cigar and provide a review of a released product. Let's see how it smokes!

Cigar: Crux Guild Robusto Extra

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Factory: Plasencia Cigars

Wrapper: Ecuador

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 5.25"

Ring Gauge: 54

Vitola: Robusto Extra

The robusto extra is massive in hand and rolled incredibly well. The cap is applied perfectly to the cigar and there are practically no seems present. There are a few minor veins present throughout but overall the wrapper is smooth and silky. The coloring of the wrapper is at a solid Colorado Maduro scheme and it is showing some natural brown with some reddish and dark brown hues. The wrapper has an aroma of leather, rich earth, chocolate tobacco and a faint bit of licorice. The foot is somewhat similar and it is producing notes of rich earth, dark chocolate cake, red pepper and additional strong spices.

The cigar begins by showing lots of red pepper qualities and a nice bit of strong tobacco flavors. I am picking up some leather and dry earth on top of that, and it has a finish of cedar and oak. There are some nutty qualities present as well, and it is showing bits of cashews and peanuts. It is fairly complex and it pairs well with the strength and body. It is full body with a medium-full to full strength level, and there is a nice finish present as well. I would not say it is full flavored, but it has a long finish which adds to that flavor aspect. The construction is top notch and I am getting a razor sharp burn line with a dark charcoal ash on the end. The ash is holding on firmly and there is a cool draw with a good bit of smoke being produced.

When I get into the second third I find a slight transition in the flavor profile and I am finding that it is not as peppery as it was in the first third. The tobacco flavors are a little bit less as well and it is showing more of this core dry earth and wood flavor profile. There is still that nutty flavor profile, mostly cashew on the finish and it has some spice qualities there as well. I would say that the cigar has come down slightly in terms of strength, it is now right around that medium-full level, but it is still a full bodied cigar. The construction remains top notch as well and it is continuing to produce an even burn line with that firm dark charcoal ash on the end. The draw remains cool and I am looking forward to the final third.

I am in the final third now and there is a return of those strong characteristics from the first third and this is a full flavored, full body and full strength cigar. It is producing those strong red pepper flavors and it is pairing with some tobacco, leather and dry earth qualities. There is a bit of wood and cashew qualities on the finish and it is a long finish that dominates the palate. As mentioned earlier, this is finishing at a full level in all areas and this is the strongest Crux I have had. The construction remains top notch as it has throughout and it is producing an even burn line with that firm charcoal ash on the end. The cigar is cool to the end and since the beginning, a nice bit of smoke has been produced with each draw.

Crux Cigars is a company that has produced a great number of releases in just a handful of years. Most of the time I would have negative things to say about that, but the company has released great line that are all unique. Looking over the blends and that everything is out of one factory, you would think they would all be similar but that is not the case at all. Along with that, their releases have been getting better over the years. They have come a long way as a company and if I was a retailer, I would definitely carry the entire line. Speaking of the Guild, this is the strongest cigar they have released and is one of the strongest cigars I have had in a while. It is full strength but also full bodied and has a great flavor profile to match and balance out the strength. The construction is top notch and it was consistent from sample to sample. On a personal level, it is not a cigar I would smoke a lot of. Like RoMa Craft Neanderthal, it is too much for me. From a rating perspective though, it did what a really good cigar should do. If you like strong cigars, buy a box of these to have in the humidor. If you like a strong cigar from time to time, buy a five pack. I am giving this cigar a solid 89 rating and I think it is safe in saying that both 007MI6 and I really liked the cigar, but as we are not super strong cigar guys, it was not for us. Look's like this is a Logan cigar!

Great review! I've been waiting for these for awhile, and they sound like something I will definitely seek out. The majority of cigars I smoke are on the stronger side, but I hate when they give up a solid flavor profile just to have power. This sounds like a winner that keeps a strong flavor profile, while maintaining the strength as well.